Is Clonazepam Available Over The Counter In Thailand?

[canadiangirl]

Hi everyone,

I take clonazepam for chronic insomnia and fibromyalgia. Normally I go to my doctor at the hospital here to get it, but my insurance outpatient coverage has run out for this year...so if I'd rather not pay for a doctor's visit if I can buy the medication over the counter. Is this possible in Thailand? Boots doesn't carry it, but I know sometimes a proper big pharmacy will carry medicines that Boots doesn't.

Thank you for any information!

[jdinasia]

No, it is not available OTC in Thailand (legally). An Australian lad that bought a related drug from a pharmacy in Phuket landed in jail.

[Phil Conners]

You can get Xanax under the counter in many pharmacies in Thailand but Benzo's cause strong dependency and tolerance so not a good drug for regular use. Probably not the best drug for your problem. I remember seeing many posts about sleeping disorders here discussing better drugs, maybe it'd be an idea to browse around, or maybe some one with specific experience will join in with suggestions.

I remember reading the story about the kid in Phuket who got into trouble over a stick of Xanax but I'm sure there was more to that story.

Edited January 9, 2011 by Phil Conners

[canadiangirl]

Hi jdinasia and Phil,

thanks for the reply! I'm aware of the downsides of this medication, I take as little of it as possible and I try to not it take more than a few times a week as I'm afraid of becoming addicted to a medication.

However, all that other stuff that people suggest for insomnia I already do: yoga, daily exercise, avoiding caffeine after morning, practicing relaxation...but in my case when I can't sleep, I REALLY can't sleep, and this drug has been a lifesaver for me. Normally I hate taking medications, especially, things that potentially mess with your brain, but before it I regularly failed university exams that were early in the morning and had to retake them, I couldn't even consider taking early morning flights or having a job that required being at the office in the morning. And now I need to get a good night's sleep every night or else I'm in pain the next day. So...it's all about weighing the pros and the cons, I think. :-)

thanks a lot for your help!

[Scully]

I am not sure about clonazepam but about 50% will sell you either xanax or diazepam, not good drugs for long term use.

Have you tried hydroxine? 100mg and one beer and I am out for the count.

[nephron]

I don't know how hard it would be to get clonazepam prescribed anyway? I was prescribed chlordiazepoxide, another benzodiazepine (same class of medications) when I had a headache and I hadn't even asked for it (and didn't want it)!

[Sheryl]

Posters are reminded of forum rules regarding discussion of illegal activity..which the OTC purchase of any type of benzo most definitely is.

[nephron]

What I mean is- do you have to go to your regular doctor to get the clonazepam prescribed? Could you go to a cheaper doctor?

[jdinasia]

I have a prescription for Librax (has librium in it). My specialist prescribes it to me at 3 pills daily as needed. I get a 4 month supply at a time. Obviously the cost of a Dr at Sri Pat etc just doesn't weigh into the equation on a thrice annual visit. The medication is cheap enough through the hospital as well. I guess I could get a better deal at Lanna Hospital, or Suan Dok since my work coverage takes care of me there, but I'd rather stick with the best GI Dr I have found in Thailand -- and pay the few 1000 baht a year to the hospital/dr/pharmacy.

[landanna]

My doctor at Bumrungrad has offered me refills on my clonazepam, so they have it there! I avoid buying medication from the hospital pharmacies when possible and go to the sukumvit pharmacies which have most generic and a good variety of name brand north American medications (I visit south east asia pharmacy on soi 15). They do not have clonazepam tho! I am going to try a few others next month and if not will need to get the refill at Bumrungrad which will be pricey im sure :/

[Sheryl]

You cannot get any benzo legally at a pharmacy, has to be from a hospital pharmacy,. A special license and reporting of all sales to the Thai FDA is involved.

[ukrules]

Posters are reminded of forum rules regarding discussion of illegal activity..which the OTC purchase of any type of benzo most definitely is.

I use Midazolam and got a prescription from general doctor in a hospital in Bangkok, she told me she could only give me 5 tablets. They were 15mg tablets which were stronger than the 7.5mg ones I've used before. This was a year ago and provided me with enough tablets for 2 long flights. Without something like this I won't fly on 12 hour flights as nothing else allows me to sleep. Well I once found a 3-4mg of Alprazolam will do it but that's quite a high dose and you don't feel so refreshed after using them.

[tim armstrong]

I don't understand why some posters don't understand?? Benzos are controlled drugs for good reasons already made clear on this forum. Whether or not you are American or any other nationality does not entitle you to buy them OTC in Thailand. Like many other legal, prescribed drugs, they are very potent, and their useage needs to be monitored, so that they are not abused, with or without other legal/illegal drugs leading to disastrous or fatal consequences.

[inthepink]

You cannot get any benzo legally at a pharmacy, has to be from a hospital pharmacy,. A special license and reporting of all sales to the Thai FDA is involved.

Do you mean to say that even with a prescription, one cannot go to a high street pharmacy to have it filled?

[Sheryl]

Correct. Thai laws are in fact more restrictive than those in the West in this regard.

A special license is required from the FDA in order to legally carry and sell this class of drugs. In practice only hospital pharmacies bother to obtain it. The paperwork requirements are formidable and there are monthly audits by the FDA, every single tablet must be accounted for etc, most pharmacies even if they might meet the requirements for the special license do not want the hassle.

And hospitals may be hesitant to dispense more than a certain amount at a time, again this is because they are concerned about what FDA inspectors would say.

[JSixpack]

I don't understand why some posters don't understand??

Which poster doesn't understand? Seems to me the effort was just to obtain information about the availability.

Benzos are controlled drugs for good reasons already made clear on this forum. Whether or not you are American or any other nationality does not entitle you to buy them OTC in Thailand.

No poster implied that a nationality deserves any special privilege. Please read the posts more carefully.

Like many other legal, prescribed drugs, they are very potent, and their useage needs to be monitored, so that they are not abused, with or without other legal/illegal drugs leading to disastrous or fatal consequences.

[canadiangirl]

Thanks for the replies everyone, looks like I'll just have to make a trip to the hospital!

[Nickelbeer]

On 1/16/2011 at 7:31 PM, Sheryl said:

You cannot get any benzo legally at a pharmacy, has to be from a hospital pharmacy,. A special license and reporting of all sales to the Thai FDA is involved.

 The doctor at the clinic where I get my testosterone injections, gave me a small precription, but there was no paperwork as in the USA. They sold it to me outright. The various warnings against benzos are pointless and redundant, since my own USA physician gave me all the warning lectures about benzos that I could possibly ingest. The more you take, the more you. need to get the effect. Being free from the effects of PTSD (Vietnam service) and panic attacks, is worth the hassle. As far as legality, I note that a great many things, such as visa extensions, seem to waive the legal requirements when an expat forks over 15 thousand baht. The continued citing of "Thai law" continues, even though all of us know that cash payments in a brown envelope are the game-changer, here.

[jackdd]

1 hour ago, Nickelbeer said:

As far as legality, I note that a great many things, such as visa extensions, seem to waive the legal requirements when an expat forks over 15 thousand baht. The continued citing of "Thai law" continues, even though all of us know that cash payments in a brown envelope are the game-changer, here.

The problem is not so much the legality. The real problem is that it might be counterfeits (and you don't really know how much of what drug is in your pills), because the pharmacy can't buy the real drug through official channels.

By the way, you replied to a 10 years old topic.

[Neeranam]

I used to buy Diazepam in Foodland, Pat Pong in the early 90s. I have had terrible tolerance issues with this drug, taking up to 100 mg at once to get a good night's sleep. it took me 5 years to taper of this drug and I wish that experience on no one. 

Now, I drink a tea from Tops Supermarket. https://th.iherb.com/pr/Celestial-Seasonings-Wellness-Tea-Sleepytime-Extra-Caffeine-Free-20-Tea-Bags-1-2-oz-35-g/11270

 

I also take Melatonin and get a  great sleep - https://www.lazada.co.th/products/gummie-gummies-natrol-melatoni-strawberry-10-mg-90-count-i2235646639-s7476938930.html?exlaz=d_1:mm_150050845_51350205_2010350205::12:1498579383!58089999096!!!pla-294682000766!c!294682000766!7476938930!290134754&gclid=Cj0KCQjwppSEBhCGARIsANIs4p4IjkB7iSJgugqpt7V2pWHVCZnkohkeD5GwJYjb7mWke4P__CVDzIoaAhoTEALw_wcB

[Neeranam]

1 hour ago, jackdd said:

By the way, you replied to a 10 years old topic.

lol, I thought I'd seen it before. 

[robblok]

5 minutes ago, Neeranam said:

I used to buy Diazepam in Foodland, Pat Pong in the early 90s. I have had terrible tolerance issues with this drug, taking up to 100 mg at once to get a good night's sleep. it took me 5 years to taper of this drug and I wish that experience on no one. 

Now, I drink a tea from Tops Supermarket. https://th.iherb.com/pr/Celestial-Seasonings-Wellness-Tea-Sleepytime-Extra-Caffeine-Free-20-Tea-Bags-1-2-oz-35-g/11270

 

I also take Melatonin and get a  great sleep - https://www.lazada.co.th/products/gummie-gummies-natrol-melatoni-strawberry-10-mg-90-count-i2235646639-s7476938930.html?exlaz=d_1:mm_150050845_51350205_2010350205::12:1498579383!58089999096!!!pla-294682000766!c!294682000766!7476938930!290134754&gclid=Cj0KCQjwppSEBhCGARIsANIs4p4IjkB7iSJgugqpt7V2pWHVCZnkohkeD5GwJYjb7mWke4P__CVDzIoaAhoTEALw_wcB

100 mg ? that is 50 tabs. For one night.. are you sure ?

 

I use it for sleep too at times and unlike you never got addicted. I think its a personal thing some people become addicts others don't. I use melatonin too and some Dutch herbal sleeping liquid. But all 3 i cant use more then a few days before i build up tolerance and switch or dont use. So i never got over 1mg to sleep. So your 100mg sounds really high. Not that I don't believe you but it must have costed you a fortune too. (or maybe it was cheaper then)

[Neeranam]

4 minutes ago, robblok said:

100 mg ? that is 50 tabs. For one night.. are you sure ?

 

I use it for sleep too at times and unlike you never got addicted. I think its a personal thing some people become addicts others don't. I use melatonin too and some Dutch herbal sleeping liquid. But all 3 i cant use more then a few days before i build up tolerance and switch or dont use. So i never got over 1mg to sleep. So your 100mg sounds really high. Not that I don't believe you but it must have costed you a fortune too. (or maybe it was cheaper then)

I could buy 1000x10mg tabs for 500 baht. 

I was using it also for withdrawal of alcohol. 

At my worst, I was taking 200 mg a day(20x 10 tabs) plus alcohol(lucky I'm still alive), it's easy to build up a tolerance. Incidentally, I was cutting by 0.01 mg when finally coming off it. 

I used to take 50mg Trazedone when needing a good sleep before an important event, this was not addictive and only worked if not taking it every day.

[Sheryl]

A post has been edited in keeping with forum rule #3

 

3) You will not post about activities or links to websites containing such material that are illegal in Thailand. This includes but is not limited to: gambling, betting, pornography, illegal drugs, fake goods/clothing, file sharing of pirated material, pyramid schemes, etc. Discussion of the above is permitted only as news items, but never as a "how to" topic.

https://forum.thaivisa.com/terms/

 

 

 

 

[Mister Fixit]

On 1/10/2011 at 7:46 AM, Scully said:

I am not sure about clonazepam but about 50% will sell you either xanax or diazepam, not good drugs for long term use.

Have you tried hydroxine? 100mg and one beer and I am out for the count.

 

HydroxYZine.  It's an antihistamine and makes you drowsy, so having a beer with it will enhance the soporific effect.  100 mgs is way too much.  25 mgs is far safer.

 

I used to use it when the little pharmacies around lower Sukhumvit stopped selling clonazepam  when the authorities cracked down on them selling clonazepam (Xanax) because bar girls were grinding it up and slipping into punter's drinks then robbing them in a hotel room when they were spark out.  

 

A hydroxyzine (Atarax) 25 mg tablet works well with a glass or two of something, but beware of too high a dose and too much alcohol.

 

Now, I go to Sritanya hospital and get real clonazepam very cheaply.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydroxyzine

 

Edited May 13, 2021 by Mister Fixit

[clivebaxter]

8 minutes ago, Mister Fixit said:

 

HydroxYZine.  It's an antihistamine and makes you drowsy, so having a beer with it will enhance the soporific effect.  100 mgs is way too much.  25 mgs is far safer.

 

I used to use it when the little pharmacies around lower Sukhumvit stopped selling clonazepam  when the authorities cracked down on them selling clonazepam (Xanax) because bar girls were grinding it up and slipping into punter's drinks then robbing them in a hotel room when they were spark out.  

 

A hydroxyzine (Atarax) 25 mg tablet works well with a glass or two of something, but beware of too high a dose and too much alcohol.

 

Now, I go to Sritanya hospital and get real clonazepam very cheaply.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydroxyzine

 

How much is it? mrs has tried everything , xanax, atarax, melatonin, nothing seem to work well

[Mister Fixit]

4 minutes ago, clivebaxter said:

How much is it? mrs has tried everything , xanax, atarax, melatonin, nothing seem to work well

 

Peanuts at my local pharmacy in Nonthaburi.  25 or 30 baht a strip of 10?  

 

But Atarax is just a brand name for hydroxyzine, so go for the generic version as it's cheaper.

I used to take a 25 mg tablet of hydroxyzine, but I'd also have a couple of small whiskies with a lot of ice and soda to help it along.  

I'd suggest your wife speaks to a decent pharmacist and ask what dosage they recommend for someone with her sleep problems.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydroxyzine

 

Xanax is just the brand name for clonazepam, and if that doesn't work I am not sure what will.  I take 1 mg of that currently, but when I could buy it OTC, I bought 2 mg tablets and one of those was excellent to get me off.

She'd need to see a doctor at a hospital to get that though.

 

 

[clivebaxter]

Thanks i'll tell her to try it

[Odysseus123]

40 minutes ago, Mister Fixit said:

 

Xanax is just the brand name for clonazepam,

Xanax is a brand name of the generic benzo ALPRAZOLAM

 

Whereas the generic Benzodiazepne CLONAZEPAM is marketed as Rivotril and Paxam in Australia along with other brand names in Canada and the US.

 

Please do not confuse the two as they have markedly different potency and half lives-and,as always,consult your doctor.

Edited May 13, 2021 by Odysseus123

[Mister Fixit]

1 hour ago, Odysseus123 said:

Xanax is a brand name of the generic benzo ALPRAZOLAM

 

Whereas the generic Benzodiazepne CLONAZEPAM is marketed as Rivotril and Paxam in Australia along with other brand names in Canada and the US.

 

Please do not confuse the two as they have markedly different potency and half lives-and,as always,consult your doctor.

 

You are right, my apologies.  I confused the names.  I was thinking of what an American friend used to take.  Unfortunately, it's too late to edit my post upthread.  

 

Clonazepam is indeed Rivotril and that's what I used to buy when it was available from pharmacies.   

 

I can only blame an aging brain!  ????

Edited May 13, 2021 by Mister Fixit